Aggregating device for use in electrical totalisators and the like



Aug. 12, 1969 R. E. WELLS 3,461,273

AGGREGATING DEVICE FOR USE IN ELECTRICAL TOTALISATQRS AND THE LIKE FiledJgne B, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet RESTCRE Aug. 12,1969 WELLS 3,461,278

AGGREGATING DEVICE FOR USE IN ELECTRICAL TOTALISATORS AND THE LIKE FiledJune 2, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 United States Patent US. Cl. 235-92 8Claims This invention relates to aggregating units responding tomultiple inputs of signals representative of stake values in anelectrical totalisator and for summating and displaying the summatedtotal.

In automatic pari-mutuel betting systems, as well as other race coursebetting equipment, it is the established practice to provideelectrically actuated aggregators for obtaining the separate totals ofmoney values associated with the betting transactions for each eventcontested. As there are in most cases a very large number, often well inexcess of 50, of ticket selling machines, very heavy demands are imposedupon the aggregating units. For this reason these units usually involvecomplicated circuitry so that the various values signalled in respect ofa wager may be recorded simultaneously. For convenience and simplicitythroughout the totalisator it is conventional to encode the variousvalues associated with a single wager, i.e. the stake, collect or payvalue, 'by the appropriate marking of a plurality of lines, each whenmarked being representative of a respective value and/ or decimal orderof value.

Different considerations and service demands are involved in theequipment available at an off-course totalisator agency. Considerablyfewer ticket machines are employed at these locations and it would beuneconomical to install aggregating units of the kind employed in racecourse totalisators. Furthermore, the various totals derived as a resultof the betting transactions at the agency would be very much less. Alarge number of aggregating units or devices will be required in theagency equipment to provide for summation of the stakes wageredsimultaneously on the repective contestants in many events. Thus anyeconomy in the construction of an aggregating unit will have aconsiderable effect on the overall cost of the equipment.

In some instances the progressive totals of the betting transactions atthe agencies are provided in money units. However, in many other casesit is conventional to reckon the transaction in terms of multiples of abasic unit. The system to which the present invention is particularlyapplied is of the latter type in which the basic unit is 2/6.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an aggregatingdevice having a summating capacity sufficient for the requirements at anoff-course totalisator agency and which is considerably simpler inconstruction than units of this kind used hitherto.

In a general form the invention provides an aggregating device forsummating the stakes wagered on a contestant with an electricaltotalisator in which all money values are expressed in terms of a basicunit, said device comprising rotating stepping counters each fordisplaying in turn the numerals of a respective decimal digit of theprogressively summated total, individual input circuits for thecounters, means for receiving in turn on individual lines signalsrepresentative of the basic unit and difierent products of the basicunit, the second lowest signalled value being double the basic unit andthe higher signalled values being a decimal product of the immediatelylower value, operating windings for each counter, means responsive to afull rotation of a counter to pulse once the winding of the next higherorder counter, means for counting each signal received representative ofthe basic unitvalue, means responsive to each '2 count of the countingmeans to pulse once the counter of the lowest digit of the summatedtotal whereby each of said digital counters counts in even numbers todouble its normal summating capacity, and means for providing anindication to an operator when a counter is positioned between thenumerals of 9 and 20 so that a mental addition may be made to thenumeral indicated by the counter of the next higher digit to obtain thesummated total.

The device of this invention is based upon the realization that thenormal summating capacity of a decimal counter can be doubled if asimple mental addition is made by the operator when reading-off theprogressive total indicated by the device. It has been found that oncean operator has familiarized himself with the required additionoccurring under certain conditions, reading-off of the total can be donequickly and accurately.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aggregating device in accordance withthe invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the interconnection of thecomponents of the aggregating device of FIG. 1.

With reference to the drawings the aggregating device of the inventionconsists of a series of counters 3a, 3b and 3c of a type similar to thedevice described in copending application Ser. No. 310,711 now PatentNo. 3,329,805. Each device has an electro-magnet 4 mounted upon a metalbaseplate formed from an encircling casing 6. A pivoted armature plate 7is positioned for attraction by the core of the electro-magnet 4 and isurged by a spring 9 to a position spaced from the core. An indicatingdrum 10 mounted upon a spindle 11 is rotatable with respect to thecasing 6 and has 10 peripheral calibrated faces 12. A 10 toothed ratchetwheel 13 is formed with the drum 10 which is engaged between opposingjaws 14a and 14b formed on an outer extensions 15 of the armature plate7. Pulsing of the electro-magnet 4 rotates the indicating drum 10step-by-step under the rocking action of the opposing jaws 14a and 141;.Each full pulse, i.e. energization and then release, will cause the drum10 to rotate of a revolution. The series of three counters is housedwithin a metal tray 16 one wall 17 of which is provided with viewingwindows 18 through which the peripheral faces 12 on the drum 10 may eachin turn be viewed. This wall 17 is preferably pivoted to permit it to beopened out thus providing access to the individual counters 3. A set ofchange-over contacts 19 for each counter is carried by the armature 7and operated by a peripheral tab 20 on the respective drum 10. A lateralspring set 21 whose contacts 22 are operated by an extending finger 23on the armature 7 is also provided.

The aggregating device illustrated in the accompanying drawings isdesigned to summate values signalled to it of the order of the basicunit or any one of 3 multiples thereof. By suitable modification of theequipment described herein signals representative of other values thanthose specified may be employed while still retaining the advantagesflowing from the invention. It has been estimated that the provision fora summated total of 250 will adequately cater for the transactionsnormally received at most off-course agency locations. This as expressedin terms of the basic unit would represent 2,000 betting units. It isnot normally possible to provide a total of this dimension by the use of3 decimal counters but this has been made possible by the invention in afashion which will be .apparent hereafter.

The three counters 3 are positioned in a line each representing thehundreds, tens and units digits, respectively, of the summated total. Abinary counter stepping device 24 or relay is provided to receivesignals representative of the basic unit. Preferably, however, forconformity and economy a similar counter to the digital counters 3a, 3band 3c is used and positioned alongside the units digit counter 3a. Thefunction of this unit 24 is to count the signals of the basic unitreceived by the aggregator and to transfer every two counts into asignal for pulsing the electro-magnet of the units digit counter 3a. Itwill, therefore, be necessary that the units digit counter 3a for eachstep counts two basic units. The calibrations on the ten peripheralfaces 12 of the counter 3a thus proceed from to 18. A full rotation ofthe units drum thereby corresponds to .a recorded total of twenty units.A single peripheral tab is provided both on this counter as well as theremaining two digital counters 3b and 3c to efiect change over of thearmature contacts 19 to signal to the counter 31) for the next advanceddigit in the progression sequence for the pulsing of its electromagnet4. In this way the tens digit counter 3b counts in steps of twenty from0 to 18 with a similar function for the hundreds digit counter 3c. It ispreferred that on each indicating drum 10 the first numeral of thenumbers ranging between 10 and 18 inclusive, are applied in adistinctive colour from the other numerals.

It will thus be necessary for an operator requiring to read-off thesummated total on the aggregator to add mentally the numeral 1, which isdistinctively coloured, to the numeral revealed by the drum 10 of thenext higher digital counter 3 in order to obtain the summated total. Forexample, say 18 be indicated on each of the three drums 10, the l of thetens digit in each number will be distinctly coloured so that when themental addition is made the total will be 1,999. This conditionrepresents the maximum summating capacity of the aggre- "ator. D Theadditional counter 24 receiving basic unit signals is provided with aperipheral tab 20 for each of its alternate positions and is calibratedin five groups of two positions alternating between 0 and 1. For acomplete rotation of its drum 10 five separate pulses are transmitted tothe units digital counter 3a. The electrical circuitry of the aggregatoris shown in FIG. 2, which shows each pair of normally open contacts 21being connected on one side to potential. The other side of one pair 26of the open contacts is commoned to the corresponding contact in theremaining digital counters 3 and the basic unit counter 24 and connectedto the winding of a RE- STORE relay. The other side of the second pair27 of contacts is connected to the moving arm 28 of the armaturecontacts 21 of the same counter 3. The normally made fixed contact 29 ofthe armature contacts 21 of the four counters 24 and 3a, 3b and 3c arecommoned and connected to a BR line. The normally open fixed contact 30of these contacts in each counter is connected to the winding of theelectro-magnet 4 of the adjacent counter next advanced in theprogression sequence.

Several normally open contacts of an A relay .are connected serially ina connection of individual value signalling lines and the appropriateones of the windings of the electro-magnets of the four counters. Thatis, the signalling line 2/6 representative of a value equal to the basicunit is connected to the winding in the basic unit counter 24. Lines5/-, and 25 representative of values equal to two basic units, 20, and200 are connected through their normally open contacts to the windingson :the units, tens and hundreds digital counter 3a, 3b and 30respectively. The RESTORE relay has a single pair of normally closedcontacts 31 connected on one side to the A relay group of the remotesignalling equipment responding to signals initiated from the ticketissuing machines. The other side of these contacts is connected througha normally closed contact of the A relay to this relays winding.

Due to the above described interconnection of components the aggregatorwill function as follows:

Firstly the ticket machines provided for operation with this equipmentenable registration of wagers only of certain values. Accepting ofwagers in a single registration is possible if the value of the stakecorresponds to the basic unit or any of the multiples of the basic unitto whose representative signals the digital counters 3a, 3b and 3crespond. Additionally, however, .a single registration at the ticketmachines may be made in respect of stakes whose value is two, three orfour times the first mentioned values. In the case of the latter valuesautomatic repeaters provide for appropriate repetition of the signal inorder to indicate the required multiple to the respective aggregator. Aseach stake is recorded in the aggregator, potential is applied to the BRline to provide a clearing signal either to free the ticket machine forfurther registration of wagers or obtain a repeat signal from theconnected repeater unit.

Should a wager involving a stake of 2/ 6 be registered by a ticketmachine the line 2/ 6 will be marked and the relay A subsequentlyoperated. With closure of this relays contacts the electro-magnet of thefirst stepping counter 24 will be energised to displace its armature andchange-over the contacts of the lateral spring set 21. This will applypotential over the now closed contacts 27 to the train of armaturecontacts 22 of the counters to the BR line. Simultaneously, potential isapplied over the contacts 26 of the lateral spring set 21 to the RE-STORE relay to break the input contacts 31 and release the A relay. Asimilar function occurs in respect of the digital counters 3a, 3b and 30when a signal representafive of another value is applied to itsrespective signalling According to the present preferred embodiment thesignalling lines are representative of wagers whose stake values are2/6, 5/-, 50/- and 25, respectively. By suitable provision of repeatersa single registration at the ticket machine may be made where a stake of10/- or 1 is wagered. 5 and 10 may be provided for in a similar way byrepetition of the 50/ signal either once or three times and 50 and 100by similar repetition of the 25 signal.

Signalling between lower digital counters 3 and immediately succeedingdigital counters is effected through change-over of the armaturecontacts 22 in a manner as previously described.

A novel aggregating device has been described in the foregoing passagesby reference to a preferred embodiment but it is to be understood thatconsiderable modification is possible within the scope of thisinvention.

What I claim is:

1. An aggregating device for summating the stakes wagered on acontestant with an electrical totalisator in which all money values areexpressed in terms of a basic unit, said device comprising rotatablestepping counters each for displaying in turn the numerals of arespective decimal digit of the progressively summated total, individualinput circuits for the counters, means for receiving on individual linessignals representative of the basic unit and different products of thebasic unit, the second lowest signalled value being double the basicunit and the higher signalled values being a decimal product of theimmediately lower value, operating windings for each counter, meansresponsive to a full rotation of a counter to pulse once the winding ofthe next higher order counter, means for counting each signal receivedrepresentative of the basic unit value, means responsive to each 2 countof the counting means to pulse once the counter of the lowest digit ofthe summated total whereby each of said digital counters counts in evennumbers to double its normal summating capacity, and means for providingan indication to an operator when a counter is positioned between thenumerals of 9 and 20 so that a mental addition may be made to thenumeral indicated by the next higher digit to obtain the summated total.

2. An aggregating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the value of thebasic unit is 2/6 and the other values signalled on the individual linesare 5/-, 50/ and 25.

3. An aggregating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means forindicating to the operator that a mental addition is to be made is anadditionally displayed calibration on the rotating counters.

An aggregating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rotatingcounter has a display drum calibrated in steps of even numbers from 0 to18.

5. An aggregating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means forcounting the basic unit signals is a further rotating stepping counterwith a calibrated display drum having 10 steps, each alternate stepbeing calibrated with the numeral 1 which when displayed indicates tothe operator that one unit is to be added to the total indicated by thedigital counters of the summated total.

6. An aggregating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each counter hasan armature and is stepped by the pulsing of its armature, and a firstset of contacts is operated with each pulse of the armature to connectpotential to a return line to provide a clear signal indicating recordalof the signalled value.

7. An aggregating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the meansresponsive to a full rotation of a counter is a second set of contactscarried by the armature and operated with each rotation of a tab on thecounter, said second set of contacts being serially connected with thereturn line and operable to transfer potential from the re turn line tothe Winding of the next higher order counter.

8. An aggregating device for automatically summating and providing anindication of the progressive summated total of stake values wagered ona contestant with an electrical totalisator in which the values areexpressed in terms of a basic unit value, said device comprising threerotatably stepping 10 position counters for summating the units, tensand hundreds digits, respectively, of the summated total, an inputrelay, individual input lines for signals representative of values equalto one basic unit, two basic units, 20 basic units and 200 basic units,a connection from three of the input lines through normally opencontacts of the input relay to the counters, the lines individual tovalues of 2, 20 and 200 basic units being connected respectively to theunits, tens and hundreds digital counters, a fourth stepping counterpreceding the units digital counter in the summation sequence andconnected through a normally open contact of the input relay to theinput line representative of a value equal to the basic unit, meansincluding contacts operable with stepping of the four counters forsignalling from a counter to the next succeeding counter in thesummation sequence with each full rotation of the digital counters andeach 2 count of the fourth counter, an operating winding for eachcounter responding to signals from the input lines and in the case ofthe first mentioned three counters also responding to signals from thepreceding counters, a rotatable digit indicating drum on each of thefour counters, calibrations on the drum of said fourth counterrepresenting 0 and 1 alternately and calibrations on the drums of saidfirst mentioned three counters in even numbers from 0 and 18, and meansfor attracting attention to the presence of the tens digit whenever theeven numbers from 10 to 18 are displayed whereby a mental addition maybe made by the operator of 1 to the numeral displayed by the next higherorder digital counter to obtain the summated total value of stakeswagered.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,122 9/ 1937 Haselton 3403793,112,068 11/1963 Hartkorn 235-92 3,376,569 4/1968 Watkins 340-3 MAYNARDR. WILBUR, Primary Examiner J. M. THESZ, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

1. AN AGGREGATING DEVICE FOR SUMMATING THE STAKES WAGERED ON ACONTESTANT WITH AN ELECTRICAL TOTALISATOR IN WHICH ALL MONEY VALUES AREEXPRESSED IN TERMS OF A BASIC UNIT, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING ROTATABLESTEPPING COUNTERS EACH FOR DISPLAYING IN TURN THE NUMERALS OF RESPECTIVEDECIMAL DIGIT OF THE PROGRESSIVELY SUMMATED TOTAL, INDIVIDUAL INPUTCIRCUITS FOR THE COUNTERS, MEANS FOR RECEIVING ON INDIVIDUAL LINESSIGNALS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BASIC UNIT AND DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OF THEBASIC UNIT, THE SECOND LOWEST SIGNALLED VALUE BEING DOUBLE THE BASICUNIT AND THE HIGHER SIGNALLED VALUES BEING A DECIMAL PRODUCT OF THEIMMEDIATELY LOWER VALUE, OPERATING WINDINGS FOR EACH COUNTER, MEANSRESPONSIVE TO A FULL ROTATION OF A COUNTER TO PULSE ONCE THE WINDING OFTHE NEXT HIGHER ORDER COUNTER, MEANS FOR COUNTING EACH SIGNAL RECEIVEDREPRESENTATIVE OF THE BASIC UNIT VALUE, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO EACH 2 COUNTOF THE COUNTING MEANS TO PULSE ONCE THE COUNTER OF THE LOWEST DIGIT OFTHE SUMMATED TOTAL WHEREBY EACH OF SAID DIGITAL COUNTERS COUNTS IN EVENNUMBERS TO DOUBLE ITS NORMAL SUMMATING CAPACITY, AND MEANS FOR PROVIDINGAN INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR WHEN A COUNTER IS POSITIONED BETWEEN THENUMERALS OF 9 AND 20 SO THAT A MENTAL ADDITION MAY BE MADE TO THENUMERAL INDICATED BY THE NEXT HIGHER DIGIT TO OBTAIN THE SUMMATED TOTAL.